Cushioning bumper



June 1954 D. R. FALKENBERG ETAL 3,135,008

CUSHIONING BUMPER Filed April 2, 1962 INVENTORS Douemss l2. FALKENBE/ZG United States Patent 3,135,008 CUSHIONING BUMPER Douglass R. Falkenberg, 20997 Westlake Road, Rocky River, Ghio, and Frank T. Rybarcyk, Elyria, Ohio; said Rybarcyk assignor to said Falkenberg Filed Apr. 2, 1962, Ser. No. 184,381 6 Claims. (Cl. 16-1) This invention relates as indicated to a cushioning bumper, and more particularly to a weighted drapery cord receiving device, especially such devices as receive cording wherein the free ends of the cord are disposed at points remote from the point where the cord is manually operated, e.g. tied together centrally of a traverse rod.

This invention has particular utility in the field of endless drapery cords. Venetian blind cords and draw curtain cords. For purposes of this description, however, the invention will be described in connection with its utility in the field of draw draperies, particularly those employing endless cords. It will be understood, however, that the present invention is equally applicable to other forms of window drapery or curtain devices.

Accordingly, in the drapery field, which has had to adapt itself to window areas of increasing horizontal span, experience has shown that draw drapes operating from opposite marginal edges of such long window portions have difliculty with the length of the cord required to effect full closure. Most frequently the cord requirements are such that when the drapes are fully opened or fully closed, one of the free ends of the cord contacts the floor and excess cord is disposed on the floor in an unsightly manner. This led to the development of the endless cord for drapery material carried thereby.

In prior Patent 2,660,751, there has been described and claimed a cushioning bumper which is especially adapted for drapery cords, and the like, characterized by a pair of free ends for manual operation of the drapes. The present invention is an improvement thereon, and is especially adapted for use in connection with endless drape cords.

The invention will be better understood by having re- I ference to the attached drawings wherein there is shown a preferred embodiment of the invention. It is to be understood that the embodiment illustrated therein is for illustrative purposes, and that the invention is not to be limited to the precise structure illustrated.

In the annexed drawings, then:

FIG. 1 is an elevation of a cushioning bumper in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a side elevation of the cushioning bumper of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a cross sectional view of the cushioning bumper of FIGS. 1 and 2 taken on the line 33 of FIG. 2.

FIG 4 is a top view of the weight providing core shown in FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is a view of the lower marginal surface of the core shown in FIGS. 3 and 4.

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary cross sectional view of the core member shown in FIG. 5 and taken on the line 66 thereof.

FIG. 7 is a side elevation of a key in accordance with the present invention.

Briefly stated, therefore, the present invention is in the provision of a cushioning bumper for endless cording which is characterized by a core, usually a cast lead weight, having a keyway axially disposed therein. A cover, preferably a resilient plastic cover, is provided for the core and composed of a pair of skirts in surmounting relationship to each other and to the core. An inner skirt portion is adapted to embrace the core and, in a specific embodiment, includes a core retaining flange at its distal marginal extremity. An outer skirt of flexible preferably thin 3,135,008 Patented June 2, 1964 resilient plastic material surrounds said inner skirt, hiding the same from view and disposed in spaced, preferably flaring relationship therewith. T o secure the whole assembly and to provide pulley or cord return means, there is provided a key composed in a specific embodiment of a key bit, a stem and a handle portion. Cord return means are provided in the handle portion, preferably in the form of a pulley so that the handle portion may take the form of a pulley block including a pulley wheel, preferably rotatably mounted therein. The pulley block of the preferred assembly serves as a key bow or handle portion and enables rotation of the key within the keyway in such manner as to bring the key bit into interlocking relationship with the core to secure the core within the cover portion and the pulley block in operative position in the assembly.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, there is shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 a cushioning bumper of the present invention having a flared outer skirt 10 and a pulley block 11 having a rope or cord 12 reeved therethrough. Pulley block 11 as shown more clearly in FIGS. 2, 3 and 7 is composed of a generally U-shaped frame 14 in inverted relation with respect to the skirt 10. The legs of the U are provided by side covers 15 and 16 and the bridge of the U is provided by the bar 17. In the preferred embodiment, bar 17 is a flexible member which is integral with pulley wheel covers 15 and 16. Suitable materials for construction of the pulley block 11 include polyethylene and polypropylene.

The portion of the cover 15 opposite the bridge member 17 is integral with a key guard 18 which in combination with the skirt 10 provides a suitable and decorative cover for the upper surface 19 thereof.

Cover 16 forming the other leg of the inverted U is detached from guard or collar 18. Intermediate the extremities of the covers 15 and 16 as shown in FIG. 7 axial means are provided in the form of a pair of confronting projections 20 and 21 attached to receive and retain pulley wheel 22 rotatably journaled thereon.

To prevent unwanted spreading of the covers 15 and 16, suitable locking means 25 (FIG. 2) are provided. One form of such locking means shown in FIG. 7 includes a pair of jaws 26 and 27 integrally cast with cover 15 and guard 18. Jaw 26 being of the same resilient plastic material as the balance of the pulley block 11 is flexible. Jaws 26 and 27 define a cavity 28 adapted to receive tongue 30 which is integral with cover 16. The flexibility of jaw 26 enables bulbed tongue 30 to be inserted in the cavity 28 for releasable interlocking engagement therein.

The ability to release cover 16 from the interlocking means 25 facilitates emplacement of the pulley wheel 22 and the cord 12 in the apparatus at the time of installation.

Pulley block 11 is integral with a key stem 31 which is provided at its distal end with a key bit 32. The function of key bit 32 is to provide means for releasably interlocking the pulley block 11 with the assembly and securing the core member 40 in position within the device as hereinafter more particularly described.

Referring more particularly to FIG. 3, the detail of construction of the cover 41 for the core 40 is shown. Cover 41 is preferably composed of an inner skirt member 42 which is adapted to embrace the core 40. To facilitate retention of the core 40 within the skirt 42 there may be provided an inwardly directed flange 43. When the cover 41 is fashioned from a resilient plastic material, e.g. polyethylene or polypropylene, preferred types of material, the core 40 or weight member 46 may be pressed into the cover 41, and the flange 43 will snap around the bottom surface 44 thereof.

Core member 40 is conveniently cast from lead or other metallic composition or alloy, and conforms generally to the shape of the cover member 41 and the skirt portion 42. Core member 40 is conveniently provided with an axial bore 50 extending therethrough. Grooves 51 and 52, preferably in diametrically opposed relationship, are provided in the surface of bore 50, and are adapted to receive key bit 32, and allow the latter to pass completely through the core 40. FIG. shows a view of the bottom of core 40, the distal end of the bore 50, and the corresponding ends of grooves 51 and 52. Sloped shoulders 53 and 54 are provided leading from the groove 51 and 52, respectively, so that when the key stem 31 is rotated through 90, the key bit 32 and its projecting shoulder portions 33 and 34 may become seated on said sloped shoulder portion 53 and 54, respectively and guided for seating engagement with key bit seats 55 and 56, respectively.

When the key 14 is in assembled position with the cover 41 and the core member 40, it will be observed that the key bit 32 serves to attach the pulley block 11 to the assembly and to secure the core 40 Within the cover 41.

It will be observed that in the preferred embodiment, cover 41 is provided with an inner skirt portion 42 and an outer skirt portion 10. Outer skirt portion is desirably in diverging flaring relationship with respect to inner skirt 42.

As shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, skirt 10 may be provided with decorative fluting, and is desirably of suflicient length to hide the inner skirt 42, the core 40 and distal portion of the key 14;

There has thus been provided an improved cushioning bumper for use particularly with endless drapery cord to provide a decorative terminal portion for such apparatus. The devices of the present invention are characterized by a cover portion for a core member usually a weighted metallic casting having a key-way extending axially therethrough. The key which is adapted to coact therewith is composed of a handle portion which also is adapted to function as a pulley block, a key stem, and key bit. When the key is inerted in the key way of the core member, and brought into interlocking engagement therewith, the entire assembly is quickly and securely fasteed together. Because of the flexibility of the skirt portion 10, when the apparatus is impinged against adjacent woodwork or wall surfaces, no damage is done thereto.

Other modes of applying the principle of this invention may be employed instead of those specifically set forth above, changes being made as regards the details herein disclosed provided the elements set forth in any of the following claims, or the equivalent of such be employed.

It is, therefore, particularly pointed out and distinctly claimed as the invention:

1. A cushioning bumper for endless cording comprising in combination:

(a) a core having a key-way extending therethrough (b) a cover for said core including (1) an inner skirt portion adapted to embrace said core, and

(2) an outer flexible skirt portion surrounding said inner skirt and spaced from one marginal extremity of said inner skirt,

(0) a key adapted to be slidably inserted in said key-way including (1) means for releasably interlocking with said core and retaining said core and said cover in superimposed relationship, and

(2) a handle portionfor said key including a pulley block adapted to receive said drapery cordmg.

2. A cushioning bumper for endless drapery cording comprising in combination:

(a) a metallic core having an axially disposed key-way extending therethrough, said key-way including at one extremity a key bit seat,

(b) a resilient cover for said core including,

(1) an inner skirt portion adapted to embrace said core, and

(2) an outer flexible skirt portion surrounding said inner skirt and spaced from one marginal extremity of said inner skirt said inner and outer skirts being integral at their opposite marginal extremity, and

(c) a key adapted to be slidably inserted and seated in said keyway including (1) means for releasably interlocking with said core and retaining said core and said resilient cover in superimposed relationship including a stem and a bit, said bit being disposed and positioned on said stem for seating engagement with said bit seat,

(2) a handle portion for said key including a pulley block adapted to receive said drapery cordmg.

3. A cushioning bumper in accordance with claim 2 wherein said inner skirt portion includes an inwardly directed marginal flange adapted to coact with said core to maintain the latter in snapped interlocking relationship therein. 4. A cushioning bumper in accordance with claim 2 wherein said key-Way comprises an axial bore through said core having diametrically opposed grooves therein adapted to telescopically receive said key bit, said key stem being so dimensioned as to be rotatable in said bore when said key is inserted therein a distance suflicient to release said bit from said grooves.

5. The cushioning bumper of claim 4 wherein the distal extremity of said key-way is provided with oppositely directed sloped shoulder portions adapted to guide said key bit from said diametrically opposed grooves through a turn for seating against said bit seat means.

6. A cushioning bumper in accordance with claim 2 wherein said pulley block includes a frame of generally U-shaped cross section having one of the legs of said frame integrally attached to said key stem, and the other leg of said U-shaped frame including means for releasably interlocking said other leg to said key stem, a bridge portion between said legs of said U-sh'aped frame comprising a flexible band member, axle means carried by said frame and a pulley wheel rotatably mounted thereon.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 190,051 La Rue Apr. 24, 1877 201,109 Griflith Mar. 12, 1878 203,569' Van Kannel May 14, 1878 2,660,751 Falkenberg Dec. 1, 1953 

1. A CUSHIONING BUMPER FOR ENDLESS CORDING COMPRISING IN COMBINATION: (A) A CORE HAVING A KEY-WAY EXTENDING THERETHROUGH (B) A COVER FOR SAID CORE INCLUDING (1) AN INNER SKIRT PORTION ADAPTED TO EMBRACE SAID CORE, AND (2) AN OUTER FLEXIBLE SKIRT PORTION SURROUNDING SAID INNER SKIRT AND SPACED FROM ONE MARGINAL EXTREMITY OF SAID INNER SKIRT, (C) A KEY ADAPTED TO BE SLIDABLY INSERTED IN SAID KEY-WAY INCLUDING (1) MEANS FOR RELEASABLY INTERLOCKING WITH SAID CORE AND RETAINING SAID CORE AND SAID COVER IN SUPERIMPOSED RELATIONSHIP, AND (2) A HANDLE PORTION FOR SAID KEY INCLUDING A PULLEY BLOCK ADAPTED TO RECEIVE SAID DRAPERY CORDING. 